Dellin Betances To Start Season on Injured List

The New York Yankees will be starting the 2019 season with several key players on the injured list. Dellin Betances, the Yankees right hander and star reliever, will open the season on the injured list, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday.

New York cited shoulder inflammation as reasoning for the move, and Betances’ performance this spring has been indicative of the problem. While he usually sits in the upper 90s, Betances has lost almost 10 mph on his fastball this spring.

This isn’t necessarily reason to panic, if you’re a Yankee fan. Betances has dealt with similar issues in the past, and he’s bounced back just fine. The fact that Opening Day is early this year could also be contributing to New York’s caution with the reliever.

“I am not concerned, it was the same thing in 2015, it was a big story,” Betances told the New York Post on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. “The only problem is that it’s later in spring training this year and the season starts earlier.”

Betances joins the starter Luis Severino and outfielder Aaron Hicks on list of Yankee starters who will miss Opening Day due to injury.